Each state’s constitution and laws establish the state’s courts, which interpret state laws (and generally not federal laws). A court of last resort, often known as a supreme court, is usually the highest court in the state. Some states also have an intermediate court of appeals. Below these intermediate courts of appeal are the state trial courts, where most lawsuits begin. State trial courts are referred to differently in different states—often as district courts, circuit courts, or superior courts.

State courts are often courts of general jurisdiction—meaning they hear all types of cases—involving criminal law, family law, probate law, and general disputes involving money and property. But more populated counties often have courts of specific jurisdiction, such as family courts that only hear family law matters (divorce, child custody, child support); criminal courts that only hear criminal matters; and probate courts that only handle the probate of estates and related litigation.

In West Virginia (WV), the state court system is structured with the Supreme Court of Appeals as the court of last resort, which is the highest court in the state. There is no intermediate court of appeals in West Virginia, making the Supreme Court of Appeals the only appellate court in the state. Below the Supreme Court of Appeals are the state trial courts, known in West Virginia as Circuit Courts. These Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction and handle a wide range of cases, including criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. West Virginia also has Magistrate Courts, which handle certain types of civil and criminal cases, including misdemeanors and preliminary hearings for felonies, as well as Family Courts that specifically deal with family law matters such as divorce, child custody, and support. Additionally, there are Municipal Courts that handle city ordinance violations. The state courts in West Virginia are primarily responsible for interpreting state laws and do not generally handle cases involving federal law.